Edson, Alberta
| Edson | |
|---|---|
| — Town — | |
| Town of Edson | |
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| Motto: Heart of the Yellowhead | |
 Edson
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| Coordinates: 53°34′54″N 116°26′04″W / 53.58167°N 116.43444°WCoordinates: 53°34′54″N 116°26′04″W / 53.58167°N 116.43444°W | |
| Country |  Canada |
| Province |  Alberta |
| Region | Central Alberta |
| Census division | 14 |
| Municipal district | Yellowhead County |
| Incorporated | 1911 |
| Government[1] | |
| • Mayor | Greg Pasychny |
| • Governing body |
Edson Town Council
|
| • Manager | Clarence Joly |
| • MP | Rob Merrifield (Cons - Yellowhead) |
| • MLA | Robin Campbell (PC - West Yellowhead) |
| Area (2011)[2] | |
| • Total | 29.58 km2 (11.42 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 925 m (3,035 ft) |
| Population (2011)[2] | |
| • Total | 8,475 |
| • Density | 286.5/km2 (742/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Edsonite[3] |
| Time zone | MST (UTC−7) |
| • Summer (DST) | MDT (UTC−6) |
| Postal code span | T7E |
| Area code(s) | +1-780 |
| Website | Town of Edson |
Edson is a town in west-central Alberta, Canada. It is located in Yellowhead County, 192 kilometres (119 mi) west of Edmonton along the Yellowhead Highway and 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) east of the intersection with Highway 47. Residents of Edson are referred to as Edsonites.[3]
Contents |
[edit] History
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The town was originally named Heatherwood, but the name was changed around 1911 in honour of Edson Joseph Chamberlin, vice-president of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. Local history maintains that Edson (Heatherwood) was built in its current location because it was the first level spot after Wolf Creek. (The land at Wolf Creek was quickly bought up after the announcement of plans to develop a town there, which rendered it uneconomical for the railway.) When Edson was declared the local rail centre, smaller communities such as Rosevear (abandoned), Wolf Creek, Carrot Creek and Niton Junction fell into a decline that continues today. In the 1950s, upgrading of Highway 16 caused a dramatic increase in private, commercial and industrial traffic. Today, the Yellowhead Highway carries some of the heaviest traffic flow in Alberta and has been officially declared the second Trans-Canada Highway. In the 1970s, a revitalized coal industry saw the Cardinal River Coal and Luscar Sterco mines launched in the area. The 1980s saw the development of Pelican Spruce Mills (now Weyerhaeuser Canada) and Sundance Forest Industries - two of Edson's major employers.
[edit] Geography
Edson lies in the McLeod River valley, immediately east of the Canadian Rockies foothills. The surrounding landscape consists of primarily taiga forest with sand hills and muskeg. The town is located at an altitude of 925 metres (3,035 ft). Two provincial parks are located west of Edson: Sundance Provincial Park along Sundance Creek and Obed Lake Provincial Park surrounding the three Obed Lakes.
[edit] Climate
Edson experiences a subarctic climate (Köppen climate classification Dfc).
| Climate data for Edson | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 13.7 (56.7) |
18.1 (64.6) |
19.5 (67.1) |
28.6 (83.5) |
33.3 (91.9) |
33.3 (91.9) |
32.2 (90.0) |
32.8 (91.0) |
33 (91) |
27.5 (81.5) |
19 (66) |
15.4 (59.7) |
33.3 (91.9) |
| Average high °C (°F) | −5.2 (22.6) |
−2.2 (28.0) |
3.6 (38.5) |
10.6 (51.1) |
16.2 (61.2) |
19.4 (66.9) |
21.6 (70.9) |
20.6 (69.1) |
15.7 (60.3) |
10.3 (50.5) |
0.1 (32.2) |
−5 (23) |
8.8 (47.8) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −11.8 (10.8) |
−9.2 (15.4) |
−3.3 (26.1) |
3.5 (38.3) |
8.9 (48.0) |
12.6 (54.7) |
14.6 (58.3) |
13.7 (56.7) |
8.8 (47.8) |
3.4 (38.1) |
−6 (21) |
−11.2 (11.8) |
2 (36) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −18.2 (−0.8) |
−16.1 (3.0) |
−10.2 (13.6) |
−3.7 (25.3) |
1.4 (34.5) |
5.7 (42.3) |
7.6 (45.7) |
6.8 (44.2) |
1.8 (35.2) |
−3.5 (25.7) |
−12.1 (10.2) |
−17.5 (0.5) |
−4.8 (23.4) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −46.1 (−51.0) |
−47.3 (−53.1) |
−38.9 (−38.0) |
−23.3 (−9.9) |
−6.6 (20.1) |
−3.3 (26.1) |
0 (32) |
−3.4 (25.9) |
−11.4 (11.5) |
−34.6 (−30.3) |
−39.2 (−38.6) |
−45.1 (−49.2) |
−47.3 (−53.1) |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 26.4 (1.039) |
14.2 (0.559) |
20 (0.79) |
23.6 (0.929) |
57.9 (2.28) |
106.7 (4.201) |
106.2 (4.181) |
82.2 (3.236) |
62.6 (2.465) |
23.2 (0.913) |
18.5 (0.728) |
20.9 (0.823) |
562.4 (22.142) |
| Source: Environment Canada[4] | |||||||||||||
[edit] Demographics
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The Town of Edson's 2012 municipal census counted a population of 8,646.[5]
In the 2011 Census, the Town of Edson had a population of 8,475 living in 3,386 of its 3,701 total dwellings, a 4.7% change from its 2006 population of 8,098. With a land area of 29.58 km2 (11.42 sq mi), it had a population density of 286.51/km2 (742.06/sq mi) in 2011.[2]
According to the 2006 federal census, Edson had a population of 8,098 living in 3,230 dwellings, a 6.8% increase from the 2001 federal census. The town has a land area of 29.54 km2 (11.41 sq mi) and a population density of 274.1 /km2 (710 /sq mi).[6]
[edit] Economy
The main industries that drive the local economy are resource based – coal, oil, natural gas and forestry products.
[edit] Sports
Edson is home to Canada's largest slo-pitch tournament.[7]
[edit] Infrastructure
Edson is connected to the Yellowhead Highway from east to west and to Coal Valley via Highway 47 to the south.
Via Rail's The Canadian calls at the Edson railway station three times per week in each direction as a flag stop.
[edit] Education
- Grande Yellowhead Regional Division No. 35
- A.H. Dakin Elementary School (K-5)
- Evergreen Elementary School (K-5)
- Parkland Composite High School (9-12 English, French)
- École Pine Grove Middle School (6-8 English, French)
- Westhaven Elementary School (K-5 English, French)
- Living Waters Catholic Regional Division No. 42
- Holy Redeemer Junior Senior Catholic High School (7-12)
- Vanier Community Catholic School (K-6)
- Private
- Yellowhead Koinonia Christian School (K-12)
[edit] Media
- Newspapers
Edson has two local papers. The weekly Edson Leader and The Weekly Anchor.[8]
- Radio Stations
- CBXD 1540 CBC Radio One
- CFXE 94.3 Newcap Broadcasting
- CKUA-FM-8 103.7 CKUA Radio Network
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Alberta Municipal Affairs: Municipal Officials Search
- ^ a b c "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2011 and 2006 censuses (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. 2012-02-08. http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2011/dp-pd/hlt-fst/pd-pl/Table-Tableau.cfm?LANG=Eng&T=302&SR=1&S=51&O=A&RPP=9999&PR=48&CMA=0. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
- ^ a b "Edsonites are recycling champions". Edson Leader (Sun Media Corporation). http://www.edsonleader.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2592836&archive=true. Retrieved 2012-04-27.
- ^ Environment Canada—Canadian Climate Normals 1971–2000, accessed 31 August 2009
- ^ "Municipal Census Stats". Town of Edson. 2012-07-18. http://www.edson.ca/town/town-news/post/1200. Retrieved 2012-07-19.
- ^ Statistics Canada (Census 2006). "Edson - Community Profile". http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/profiles/community/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=4814024&Geo2=PR&Code2=48&Data=Count&SearchText=Edson&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&GeoLevel=&GeoCode=4814024. Retrieved 2007-06-11.
- ^ Edson Leader (2007-07-27). "Let's play ball! Kin Slo-pitch ready to roll". http://www.edsonleader.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?archive=true&e=1909997. Retrieved 2010-11-20.
- ^ The Weekly Anchor
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Edson, Alberta |
- Town of Edson (Official website)
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